Royal Crown
The candle lit chamber felt thick with anticipation. The only people in the room being Prince William, next in line for the throne, his wife, Princess Anne, and Alice, the royal midwife. Princess Anne and Prince William fell in love when they were just 15 years old, Anne was the daughter of a Count, and they considered themselves lucky about founding true love in a world ruled by duty. They married 5 years later, right after Anne turned 20. The kingdom demanded heirs, so both William and Anne began trying right after their wedding, and even after their efforts were compensated, they would keep on “trying” just to be together and intertwined. Two months after their wedding they told the happy news to William’s parents. The King and Queen were happy, but they made sure Anne knew they wouldn’t be satisfied until she had proven herself capable of providing a boy to the kingdom. Prince William knew how the crown worked, but he was so happy about having a child with the love of her life, he didn’t care about that baby being the heir. They were quite an unconventional royal couple, and Prince William with his reputation as a rule breaker fueled that assumption about them, for starters, their marriage wasn’t arranged, they got married because it was their choice, they slept in the same chamber, defying the tradition of having them sleep separately, and William planned on being present during the birth of his first-born (and all the others that followed).
Around 2pm, Princess Anne began to feel the pangs of labor. The Queen had told her about the pains of bringing a new life into the world, but she had never imagined that it would be a pain different to all of the ones she had felt before. William noticed immediately that something was wrong with his wife. —What is it, love?— William asked.
—I think it is time for our baby to come— Princess Anne breathed out.
The soon to be King placed a palm against her tight stomach, —I will go get the midwife—. And after a swift nod from his wife he left.
He wasn’t gone for long, and he arrived with Alice, the same midwife that helped bring him into the world by his side. He found his wife balled up in their bed, mid-contraction. —We’re here Anne, Alice is here, let’s have our baby—. He kissed the top of her head while Anne relaxed against her husband.
—Your Majesty—. Alice said, —may I please check your progress?—
—Yes, please— Anne moaned as she positioned herself and opened her legs for the midwife.
—You are doing splendid, Your Majesty. You are more than half way there. We still have a few hours until the new heir is here.
And it was so. About 4 hours later, the labor pains were stronger and longer. Princess Anne could barely form coherent sentences. William had been right alongside her during the whole process, rubbing her back, helping her walk, massaging her enormous belly. It was really incredible how her wife’s body had transformed during the past months, her dainty figure was no longer, she was full, round and so beautiful. When he saw her without her clothes on she looked like a completely different woman than the one that he married, and somehow, she was even better.
Anne’s face was contorted with a contraction when a gush of fluid erupted from within her. —Princess, your waters have broken, it means that you are closer to meeting your child.— Alice said. Anne could now feel the head of her baby against her, relentlessly wanting to open her way into the world. The pressure inside of her body began increasing, until it became unbearable. A scream escaped from her mouth, and she began to push, even without intending to. —Are you pushing, your majesty?— Alice asked with a calm voice.
—YES!— Anne managed to yell as a new pain tightened her core.
—You are doing great, my love. Keep going— William reassured his wife as he grabbed her hand for support. She squeezed his fingers in order to keep herself grounded, but with each pain and each push, it became more difficult to do so.
She began to feel spread open, a burning sensation that consumed her whole. —It burns!— She screamed- —MMMMNGHHHHHH—. She pushed with all her might, her lips bulging with the effort she was making, preparing themselves to let the babe pass through them.
She usually was very controlled and demure, seeing her so out of her was rare, William only saw her loose control in a similar way when they were in bed together. Watching her so raw and vulnerable made him feel a new passion for her, and gave him the desire to keep her full with his children in the years to come so he could be able to see her like this again.
— I can see the head — Alice exclaimed. —You can do this you majesty, push!
—I CAN’T, please, help me.
Williams heart felt full. —Yes, you can my love—. He kissed her sweaty temple.—You were born to do this, you are almost done.
—Yes, your majesty,— Alice added— You are performing your duty in a splendid manner. Keep going, princess, the heir will be here any minute now—.
Yes, she was performing her duty as a future queen, but William knew this was so much more for both of them. She was bringing new life into the world, a life they created together and that represented their love.
And Anne, she knew this was her duty to be performed, but that wasn’t enough to give her strength, but thinking about having her child in her arms, making her beautiful family bigger, that love she felt for her unborn child was what did it. She pushed again, she pushed until her head felt dizzy. She could feel the head inching forward, she felt how the nose passed through her. With a grunt, the head finally exploded and Anne felt a slight relief to her despair.
—The head is out your majesty—. Alice told her — You are so close to meeting your child.
Anne panted and laid her head against her husband. William caressed her tired wife and kissed the top of her head. They were so close to being a bigger family. Anne’s middle started contracting once again, urging her to keep on pushing. So she did, she began pushing with all her might, synchronizing her efforts with her pains. The minutes passed her by, accompanied by her husband’s encouragements and her midwife’s instructions, and finally, Anne started feeling her body making room for the shoulders of the babe.
—AAGGHHHHHH— With the loudest scream William had ever heard coming out of her love’s mouth, the child emerged from within her.
—It’s here your majesty—. Alice turned her eyes to the newborn —I’m afraid it is a girl sir —. She said turning to look towards William, her eyes filled with sorrow, she was a nice lady, but she knew that the King and the Queen were expecting for the male heir to be born that day. But what no one understood was that the only thing that mattered to William was that his wife and newborn child were healthy and by his side.
—The most perfect girl that has ever existed—. Williams heart filled with love, as he reached for her. Alice gave him the babe and he sat besides his love —Look Anne, our baby is here, thank you for this. I love you.
Anne’s eyes watered at the sight. —I love you too, thank you for making me so ha…ppy —. Her mouth fell open, as a new surge of pain attacked her stomach —OHHGHHH, WHAT? ALICE, something is wrong, the pains have not stopped—. She scrunched her face in agony, they had told her that once the babe was born the pain would stop.
Alice was quick to check what was going on. —Princess, there is another one coming, I need you to push with the next pain—. The midwife explained.
—I can’t do this again… mgghhhhh— Anne moaned. Exhaustion radiating from her —Alice, I can’t, I can’t.
—Yes you can and you will your majesty. This second babe is coming fast, just a few more pushes and you shall be done.
—Come on love. You can do this. Two babies in one day, I could not be prouder than I am right now.
Another contraction started to slowly form throughout Anne’s stomach, everything tensed within her, and her body urged her to push down. She pushed until her cheeks resembled two bright apples, beads of sweat running down her forehead. The burning sensation that ran trough her made her realize this second babe was bigger than the first. She could feel her skin stretching around the head of her child.
—Good job princess, keep going.
—MMMGHHHAAAAA—. Anne wasn’t capable of forming words anymore, only primal sounds emerged from her.
William watched her wife in awe, how with every contraction she managed to push with renewed effort, bringing his second baby closer to being born.
—You are now at a full crown your majesty—. Alice announced. —Just a few more pushes.
Anne obeyed, she pushed again, working hard until she felt the head of the child move inch by inch.
A loud pop and a gush of liquid surged through her body as the head emerged. Her body started to relax, but she couldn’t because a new contraction came with new force. She pushed again, without even realizing. She screamed and moaned, because the shoulders were crashing against her skin trying to escape her. And with only two more pushes, the child slid from her.
Anne crashed down on the pillows, with almost no energy left in her body. But when the cry of the babe filled the room, her lungs filled with air and her heart filled with love. She turned her eyes towards William, who was already looking at her.
—You are incredible love—. He whispered
—It is a boy! — Alice beamed. —You have birthed a boy your majesty, the heir of the kingdom has been born.
—Today he is not the heir Alice— William chastised the midwife. — Today he is just our son. Our son and our daughter both have been born on this day, that is the only thing that matters.
Anne smiled. She knew how important it was for the kingdom that she bore an heir, but the last thing on her mind at that moment was her duty to the kingdom. The only important duty for her was that of protecting, loving and caring for her children. And amid all the pain, she knew she would bear as many more children as God and her husband gifted her. But she knew what had to be done, for the sake of the kingdom and to make sure that her mother-in-law did not harass her for not being a competent wife to the future king.
—William, I am so happy about our family, but we do have to think about our duty. Alice, the boy — She started.
—Yes your majesty— Alice nodded, looking into the princess’s eyes. — The boy came first, he was the first born. The little prince was followed by the princess. Don’t you worry, I will not say otherwise.
Anne nodded. —Thank you.
—You do not have to thank me, it is my honor to serve the crown, and to serve you. I am sure you will make excellent rulers for our people, and excellent parent to these blessed children. — She said.
—These and the ones that will follow —William said, smiling at his wife.
—I hope there are many —Anne said. —And I hope you are the one that brings them into the world—. She looked at Alice.
—I will be happy to your majesty—. Alice replied. And she was sure it wouldn’t be long before she was called again to attend to Princess Anne, for one only had to see how the Prince and Princess looked at each other.
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